Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-02-08
As TO JUST RECOGNITION.
THE SENATE READS A HOMiLY TO
THE PRESIDENT.
Taking for Its Text Some Remarks He
Morgan Discourses of an Isthmian Canal
Millions of Money for Big Guns
Conversational Record

Millions of Money for Big Guns
Congregational Record.
WASHINGTON CITY, Feb. S-The senate
has removed the injunction of secrecy from
tie vote by which the nomination Of James
c. Matthews TO be recorder of deeds for the
District of Columbia was rejected in execu-
tive session The vote in detail was as fol-
lows: Yeas-Beck, Blair, Brown, Call, Cock
rell, Colquitt, Farwen, Gibson, Hampton,
Harris, Jones OF Arkansas Mcpherson,
Mitchell of Oregon, Payne, Vest, Walthan,
Whitthorne-i7 Nays-Allison, Blackburn,
Bowen, Chace, Coke Conger, Cullom, Dawes,
Edmunds, Eustis, Evarts, German, Hawley,
Hoar, ingalls,, Jones of Nevada, Mcmillan,
Malone, Morgan. Palmer, Plumb Pugh,
Ransom, Salisbury, Sawyer, Sewell, Sher-
man, Spooner, Vance, Williams, and Wilson
of lowa-3l
The injunction of secrecy has also been Te-
moved from the resolution submit d in ex-
ecutive session by Ingalls, in reply to the
presidents letter accompanying the renon-
nation of Matthews. The resolution or paper,
which was subsequently adopted III executive
session, after opltomizlng the history of the
earlier actions of the president ami the SELL
ate IN nominating and rejecting Matthews
last year, says:
The president attempts to justify the re-
nomination Of Matthews by stating: First
Ii:at the fitness of the nominee has been dem
onstraled, second, that the previous opposl-
ton TO hls appointment amuEg the citzcns
OF the district has largely suusided, third
that be desires III tins way TO tender Just
recognition and good faith toward our col
ored fellow -Citizsus.
1t is sufficient answer to the first two rea-
sons allegel to say that neither could have
been applicable when Matthews was ap-
pointed III August. immediately after the
ad journment of the senate, tor at that time
his fitness had not been demonstrated, nor
had there been amy interval for local oppo
sitlon to subsde
Until suggested by the president, the
senate was not aware that the question Of
Just recognition OF good faith to our colored
iow-cltlzens" was involved in the question.
and 1t has never before been urged that q
perst MS nomination for an office should be
confirmed or rejected because he was black
or because he was white. This classification
| has been abolished by the suppression of the
rebellion and by the amendments Of the con-
stitution, and is no longer properly to be rec
ognized in dealing with public affairs
The senate, however, in view of the
message of the president, can not forbear to
apprise him, since he has raised the race
| issue, that Frederick Douglass was, it is I'M
derstood requested To resign the Office of
recorder of deeds in the District of Columbia
in order that James C. Matthews might be
appointed to the place Without doubt
| Frederi K Douglass Is the most distinguished
representative of the colored race, not in
this country only, but in the world. Just
recognition would have been ten
| IpYl Pplarp1 faltoyE- Izap
Ia, - retention of Frederick Doug ass
,;..-. tran by his enforced retirement in
| of.ef To reward an unknown and obscure
| partisan who had never been a slave and
| therefore represented the enfranchised race
| only 10y the accident of color The devo-
| ton o the president to the political and
| civil advancement Of the colored race might
| have been equally attested, and good faith"
| might have been as strongly evinced Nv the
| retention Of Douglass in the Office, whose du-
ties he was discharging to the satisfaction Of
| the people, unless 1t be understood that Just
| recognition Is to be rendered only to those
members Of that race who are supposed to
entertain particular political opinions In
such a case the ISSUE of race disappears, and
| the test IS politics.
The senate has no official information,
| other than that contained in the message of
| the president whether Matthews is white or
black. He is admitted to be citizen of
| New York. The office to which he is NOM
mated is strictly local. The compensation
| for the performance of its duties is not paid
by the government, but mainly by citizens
Of the District having papers to be recorded
therein His confirmation is opposed with
substantial unanimity by the citizens of the
| District, without regard to color, politics, OF
occupation. The just principles of seit-gov-
eminent. as well as the declarations of both
polite al parties justify their desire that the
duties of the office of recorder of deeds
should he performed by some resident OF
the District acceptable to those whose prop
erty is to be affected by his acts, and who
pay the entire expense of his administration